The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the validity of “colonial” era sedition law, and asked why the central government is not getting rid of it. The apex court sought a response of the Centre on pleas including the one filed by the Editors Guild of India challenging the validity of the provision.

The court said that the sedition law was used by the Britishers to suppress the freedom movement, to silence Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters, PTI reports. It said that the court is concerned about the misuse of the law.

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“Why Centre, which is repealing stale laws, is not getting rid of colonial-era law on sedition,” the SC asked. 

“The sedition law is a colonial law. Do we still need the law in our country after 75 years of Independence?” Chief Justice NV Ramana said.

The bench was hearing a fresh plea by former army officer Major-General S G Vombatkere (Retd) challenging the Constitutional validity of section 124 A (sedition) of the IPC on grounds. 

General SG Vombatkere said the sedition law causes a “chilling effect” on speech and is an unreasonable restriction on free expression, a fundamental right.